Title: Caught in a Crypto Scam: My ₹61,494 Loss and the Silence of the System
Date of Incident: 06 March 2025
In today's digital world, opportunities and traps both come in the same disguise — quick money. I learned this the hard way when I fell victim to a cryptocurrency trading scam through Telegram and WhatsApp. This post is not just my story, but a warning and a wake-up call for others like me.
How It Started
On March 6, 2025, I was contacted by a trader through Telegram who then shifted the conversation to WhatsApp. He promised high returns on small investments in crypto exchanges. Trusting his confidence, I started with a ₹1,000 investment. I was told the exchange rate was ₹699, and shortly after, I was shown a fake return of “₹3,000 paisa.”
Feeling convinced, I continued:
- ₹2,000 next
- ₹5,000 after that
- Followed by ₹15,000
- And finally ₹14,998
Each time, the scammer promised returns of ₹25,000, ₹39,388, and even ₹1,11,984. But there was always a "next step": pay withdrawal charges, pay CGST and SGST, or the transaction won’t complete.
I ended up paying ₹61,494 in total.
Systemic Silence
When I realized it was a scam, I immediately approached Hirakud Police Station in Odisha. But the response I got was disheartening. The officer in charge said, “This didn’t happen in our jurisdiction; we can’t help you.” It felt like justice was tied to borders, not to victims.
I reached out to the Cyber Crime Department, but they responded that only frauds above ₹2,00,000 would be investigated under current policy. I even mailed the SP (Superintendent of Police) of the region — but no reply till date.
Proof and Documentation
I have all the WhatsApp chat screenshots, payment proofs, UPI transaction IDs, and scammer numbers saved.
📌 Where to include the images in your blog:
- At the beginning: Screenshot of first WhatsApp contact and Telegram chat.
- Under each transaction section: Include payment proof (blur sensitive UPI info).
- At the end: Screenshot of unanswered emails to SP and Cyber Cell, and the police station visit details.
What I’ve Learned and What You Must Know
- Never trust unsolicited investment offers on Telegram or WhatsApp.
- Always verify with SEBI-registered traders before putting in money.
- Once you send money through UPI, it's nearly impossible to get it back.
- Local police and even cyber crime laws currently don’t protect small-amount fraud victims — a serious gap in our system.
Final Message
This blog is not written for sympathy but as a cautionary tale. If I can prevent even one more person from falling into this trap, my loss will find some meaning. I only hope the system starts listening — even to the smaller voices.
#CryptoScam #OnlineFraudIndia #JusticeForScamVictims #OdishaPolice #CyberSafety
0 Comments